Conversing Across the Divide: A Encounter Between Opposing Perspectives
Introducing the Individuals
First Diner: Peter, 34, London
Occupation Ex- government employee, now a student studying community health
Political history Supported Green last time (and a member of the party); previously Labour Party. Identifies as “progressive, and internationalist instead of nationalist”
Amuse bouche A drawing of a tea cup he created as a kid was once hung in the Irish National Gallery
Other Diner: A., 43, from Harrow
Occupation Risk manager in the construction sector
Political history Hailing from India, he has lived in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted the Conservative Party. Describes himself as “slightly moderate right”
Amuse bouche Akshat self-learned to understand Urdu. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”
For starters
The first participant Over the last 20 years, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, South Korea, the United States. The issues we talked about are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because human life largely follows the same curve wherever it is. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We split starters – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think he was too. Would he criticize me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our affection for London.
Key disagreements
The first participant I view immigration like sprinkling salt to a dish. With a small amount, the dish tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty.
The second participant Akshat used an analogy about seasoning. It would be odd to be if the government was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the country.
Akshat There are, sadly, people escaping oppression, but many people arriving in the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily add significant value and can weigh on the benefit system. Nobody forces you to go to a different nation for opportunity, so you should only go if you can take care of yourself and your family.
Peter We got lost with certain details. In my view it’s like you arrive and work and then following a half-decade you get permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, visa fees are quite expensive, there is an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is restricted. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anybody. And concerning the new policies, under which you can’t bring your family over, it’s incredible to say: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I believe we must maintain a degree of humanity.
Common ground
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. So am I, but at the same time, wealth creation helps communities and ought to be promoted.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that certain elements of society – politics, the press – benefit from stoking division. We did find common ground in fundamentals and values.
For afters
The first participant Peter believes that since the UK benefitted from colonial times, it ought to provide reparations to affected nations. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess the past with contemporary ethics; times are different, current society had no control of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? Certainly not.
Peter In the past, I believe adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. For example, when I first moved to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the part that colonialism contributed to it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about signing a cheque, it should be about looking at past errors and our current responsibilities.
Final thoughts
Akshat It won’t change the my perspective, but I understand his worries. I converse with individuals regularly whose views are opposite to my own. The goal is uniting people to the same page, so that all of us can strive for the improvement of society.
The second participant We remained for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we both enjoyed the meal, so we might become more receptive to engaging in dialogues with other people in the coming times.
